Local News

Pasadena Standoff Over

PASADENA (CNS) - A knife-wielding man who holed up with a 10-month-old baby girl inside a Pasadena motel room was taken into custody this morning after being swarmed by officers who feared for the child's safety, police said.

The drama played out at the Lincoln Motel in the 1500 block of Lincoln Avenue, where officers were called around 12:45 a.m. to investigate a report of a man acting strangely and arguing with a female, according to Pasadena police.

Two officers spotted the suspect on the west side of the property and when the suspect saw them, he retreated into one of the motel rooms, said Pasadena police Lt. Jason Clawson.

As more units arrived, an officer looked through the motel room window and saw the suspect, later identified as 32-year-old Steven Flowers of Pasadena, holding the infant in one arm and a knife in his other hand, Clawson said.

Officers surrounded the room and at one point, the sergeant in command saw Flowers holding the child at knifepoint, police allege.

The sergeant quickly assembled an entry team, with some officers assigned less-lethal devices and one assigned ``lethal coverage'' in case Flowers attempted to harm the child, Clawson said.

One officer, a trained negotiator, began talking with Flowers and convinced him to place the knife on the floor, but the suspect still refused to surrender, Clawson said.

Officers then entered the room using a pass key. Flowers, who Clawson said was ``aggressive, belligerent and appeared paranoid'' retreated into a corner and appeared to be squeezing the child.

Following a pre-arranged rescue plan, the officers recovered the child and subdued Flowers, taking him into custody, Clawson said.

Both Flowers and the child were taken to a hospital for evaluation. Flowers was later released and booked at the Pasadena police jail, Clawson said.

He was being held at the Inmate Reception Center in downtown Los Angeles in lieu of $100,000 bail, according to sheriff's online booking records.

The child, who was unharmed, was placed into the custody of the county Department of Children and Family Services, Clawson said.